I have some carbon arrows for my bow but I was wondering if aluminum arrows penetrate farther into a deer because they weigh more. I read somewhere that they do but I just wanted to confirm that.
Aluminium weight more than carbon arrow, so it will drop more.
Considering a modern bow at 65 lbs with a carbon shaft arrow and decent broadhead will go clean through a deer, I wouldn't worry about trying to increase penetration, as it's just going to go further into the ground on the other side of the deer.
Depends on what you're planning on doing with them really. But definitely no on the fiberglass. Long distance shots (50m), definitely carbon. Certain carbons do last longer, I shoot Carbon Express Nano XR, built like a tank, no aluminum comes close to the durability. Before this, I've shot ACE, built for speed and breaks left and right. So, moral of the story is, carbon's durability depends on make and model. Sadly, I have to disagree with DumDum this time around about the carbon's rigidity. For a given shaft weight, the carbon shaft will bend less than aluminums. However, for a given bow/archer setup, you need carbon shafts that bends as much as aluminum for that same setup. The basis of bow tuning is this requirement that the arrow need to bend a certain amount during the shot. Take away the bending and the arrow won't fly straight, hence the archer's paradox. Given a well tuned setup, the only variables to penetration is the KE, and the surface friction as the arrow enters the target.
Aluminum arrows do not penetrate nearly as well as the carbon arrows do. The carbon arrows penetrate better due to the carbon arrow generating more speed then the aluminum arrow and the stiffness of the carbon arrow plays a factor in it's superior penetration. If you watch a slow motion video of an aluminum arrow striking a target, the arrow flexes several times upon impact. This absorbs some of the force of the arrow. Carbon on the other hand has almost zero flex when hitting the target, therefore all the power goes into Penetration. Another fact I found out when I made the switch to carbon arrows.They are actually cheaper to use then the aluminum.A dozen carbon arrows will last much longer then a dozen aluminum ones will.You can make an aluminum arrow worthless as a hunting shaft with a broad head on it by merely dinging it a little while target practicing.Or if it becomes bent even if unable to see with the naked eye will ruin it for use with a broad head. Carbon on the other hand will never bend or ding.They last forever unless a deer rolls over on it and breaks it. It took me forever to make the switch to carbon arrows, but once I did I will never go back to aluminum again.In the old days everyone thought that weight alone was the contributing factor to penetration. But now it has been discovered that speed and stiffness are even greater factors that contribute to penetration. Stick with the carbons.
With the speed you pick up with some light carbons, the extra mass of an aluminum is irrelevant. Carbons are also much more durable. They don't bend, but only break, where as aluminum's bend quite easily. Besides, you can get complete pass through with carbons, so you don't really need more penetration.
